Hermione let out a deep breath and confidently ran through the wall onto
platform 9 ¾. "This is it." She thought to herself. It was her sixth year
and she had grown into graceful maturity. Her body was now slim and
curvaceous and she had found a way to tame her long, bushy mane. She loaded
her luggage onto the train and headed in the very last compartment to
change into her school robes.
Life had not been easy this summer. Her parents business was not doing well. They had had to move out of their home in to a small two-bedroom apartment above a bakery. It had a kitchen large enough for two people to comfortably stand and an even tinier bath. The living room was the largest room in the house by far, even though it only fit a television stand with a television, an old loveseat, and a broken in, comfortable chair.
Hermione sighed as she thought of her parents. They both loved her so much, but lately it did not seem like they really loved each other. They did not fight, no, they were above fighting. It was just the absolute silence. They never talked and certainly never laughed together anymore. It was depressing, she almost wished they would just lash out, scream, do something. Nevertheless, they just ignored each other into oblivion.
After she was finished changing, Hermione sat down to read. Her book was actually quite fascinating. It was the latest book on the study of werewolves and the newly discovered potions to help control transformations. She was already half way through.
"Buried in a book already, Granger?" Came a confident, familiar voice.
"Malfoy." Hermione replied without looking up.
"I see you've been thinking about me, Granger." Malfoy replied smugly.
"I don't have the time nor patience to listen to your incessant, annoying prattle." Hermione said in a disinterested tone with her eyes still glued to the book.
Draco stared at her for a moment until something came to his mind. "You know Granger, I've been standing for a while and you haven't turned the page once."
Hermione looked up finally making eye contact. "Malfoy, I didn't know you cared."
Draco was slightly taken back by the blow her eyes seem to give him. He saw annoyance in them but also amusement even if you couldn't tell by her face. "What makes you think I care?"
She rolled her eyes. Then in a voice barely above a whisper, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
She was so solemn, and sincere when she said it took him a moment to answer. "Just telling you McGonagall wants us in the head compartment as soon as the train takes off."
"Thank you, Malfoy." Hermione said in a tired, uncomfortable voice. "I suppose I should go there now." She added almost to herself putting her book away and leaving her book bag at the back of the compartment. It was only when she turned around did she notice Malfoy had waited for her. She smiled weakly and walked next to him with her head down.
Draco looked at her from the corner of his eye. She had most definitely grown over the summer. She nervously bit her lip and kept her head down almost as if she was ashamed. Suddenly, Draco ran into someone and fell backwards.
"Watch it, Malfoy." Said a deeper voice. Draco lifted his eyebrows in surprise at the larger redhead. "Hi Hermione, can I talk to you?"
Hermione mumbled her response, "...prefect meeting...talk later maybe..." Then a few more inaudible words.
"Right, see you at the meeting then." Ron replied. Hermione nodded then turned and helped Draco up. Ron's face was turning red with anger. Draco suddenly noticed the smaller Weasley behind him hand in hand with Potter.
"Look everyone, Potter got a girlfriend." Draco said loudly. Hermione smiled, took Draco's hand, and led him away from her friends. Draco was almost pleased when she didn't let go of his hand when they continued on their journey. They were the first ones in the compartment other than McGonagall. Hermione sat down next to the professor; Draco sat next to Hermione never letting go of her hand.
When everyone had arrived, McGonagall explained what their duties would be and if they had any questions to ask the new Head Boy and Girl. Cho Chang and someone Draco didn't know and didn't care to hear about.
"That is all, you may leave. Except for the Head Boy and Girl." Said McGonagall. "Bye." Whispered Hermione to Draco as Pansy practically attacked Draco's arm. Draco nodded to signify that he had her then moved on to trying to pry Pansy off him.
Life had not been easy this summer. Her parents business was not doing well. They had had to move out of their home in to a small two-bedroom apartment above a bakery. It had a kitchen large enough for two people to comfortably stand and an even tinier bath. The living room was the largest room in the house by far, even though it only fit a television stand with a television, an old loveseat, and a broken in, comfortable chair.
Hermione sighed as she thought of her parents. They both loved her so much, but lately it did not seem like they really loved each other. They did not fight, no, they were above fighting. It was just the absolute silence. They never talked and certainly never laughed together anymore. It was depressing, she almost wished they would just lash out, scream, do something. Nevertheless, they just ignored each other into oblivion.
After she was finished changing, Hermione sat down to read. Her book was actually quite fascinating. It was the latest book on the study of werewolves and the newly discovered potions to help control transformations. She was already half way through.
"Buried in a book already, Granger?" Came a confident, familiar voice.
"Malfoy." Hermione replied without looking up.
"I see you've been thinking about me, Granger." Malfoy replied smugly.
"I don't have the time nor patience to listen to your incessant, annoying prattle." Hermione said in a disinterested tone with her eyes still glued to the book.
Draco stared at her for a moment until something came to his mind. "You know Granger, I've been standing for a while and you haven't turned the page once."
Hermione looked up finally making eye contact. "Malfoy, I didn't know you cared."
Draco was slightly taken back by the blow her eyes seem to give him. He saw annoyance in them but also amusement even if you couldn't tell by her face. "What makes you think I care?"
She rolled her eyes. Then in a voice barely above a whisper, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
She was so solemn, and sincere when she said it took him a moment to answer. "Just telling you McGonagall wants us in the head compartment as soon as the train takes off."
"Thank you, Malfoy." Hermione said in a tired, uncomfortable voice. "I suppose I should go there now." She added almost to herself putting her book away and leaving her book bag at the back of the compartment. It was only when she turned around did she notice Malfoy had waited for her. She smiled weakly and walked next to him with her head down.
Draco looked at her from the corner of his eye. She had most definitely grown over the summer. She nervously bit her lip and kept her head down almost as if she was ashamed. Suddenly, Draco ran into someone and fell backwards.
"Watch it, Malfoy." Said a deeper voice. Draco lifted his eyebrows in surprise at the larger redhead. "Hi Hermione, can I talk to you?"
Hermione mumbled her response, "...prefect meeting...talk later maybe..." Then a few more inaudible words.
"Right, see you at the meeting then." Ron replied. Hermione nodded then turned and helped Draco up. Ron's face was turning red with anger. Draco suddenly noticed the smaller Weasley behind him hand in hand with Potter.
"Look everyone, Potter got a girlfriend." Draco said loudly. Hermione smiled, took Draco's hand, and led him away from her friends. Draco was almost pleased when she didn't let go of his hand when they continued on their journey. They were the first ones in the compartment other than McGonagall. Hermione sat down next to the professor; Draco sat next to Hermione never letting go of her hand.
When everyone had arrived, McGonagall explained what their duties would be and if they had any questions to ask the new Head Boy and Girl. Cho Chang and someone Draco didn't know and didn't care to hear about.
"That is all, you may leave. Except for the Head Boy and Girl." Said McGonagall. "Bye." Whispered Hermione to Draco as Pansy practically attacked Draco's arm. Draco nodded to signify that he had her then moved on to trying to pry Pansy off him.